Detroit chief vows to find gang member who issued death threat

The death threat against Detroit Police Chief James Craig was made through social media by a gang member who is likely part of a criminal narcotic network

By Marlon A. Walker
Detroit Free Press

DETROIT — The death threat against Detroit Police Chief James Craig was made through social media by a gang member who is likely part of a criminal narcotic network, Craig said Sunday.

"We need to clap him out," Craig said the man wrote, which is slang for shooting someone to death.

During a news conference to address the matter, Craig said the threat will not deter the work that has been done to curtail crime in the city, which includes an average of 35 weekly raids on confirmed drug dens.

He said criminals are not happy with him because of the raids that have taken place in Detroit since his arrival last summer. Shutting down drug dealers shuts down revenue streams for some of these groups, he said.

On Sunday, Craig issued a warning to the man who made the threat on his life:

Craig said his department became aware of the threat Friday. He gave few details on the threat's origin, only saying it came in through social media and others were commenting on it. The others who supported the message also were being sought, Craig said.

"No way will we back off," he said. "You don't get to threaten a police chief. You threaten a police chief, you threaten every member of that police department. You threaten a police chief, and you threaten every member of our community. That's not acceptable.

"This reiterates that we're doing the right thing."

The FBI is investigating the threat. Craig said officials from the Michigan Attorney's Office, the Michigan State Police and the Detroit Crime Commission also were assisting efforts to uncover the criminal network behind the threat.

"We're going to dismantle this narcotic network," he said, adding that the effort "will extend beyond the borders of the city of Detroit."